electrical issues with the 67 fish

I can try to help you but only one thing at a time please. The ignition and starting has nothing to do with instrument cluster in electrical sense . They do cross paths mechanicaly though, here's how..
To remove the instrument cluster you first lower the steering column. If the car is column shift equiped you probably effected the linkage enough to loose the adjustment of your neutral safety switch when you lowered the column.
From here I dont know if the steering column is bolted back in place or if the instrument cluster is hanging from the harness connectors.
What do you want to fix first ?